Regardless of the week’s economic report, we are still living the effects of the recession. Aside from the escalating gas prices, eggs are $2 a dozen and bread is $4 a loaf. That being the everyday reality, companies are not doling out the money to send their employees to training. Workers, that would be US, are not reaching into our pockets to pay for it either. So how can the career-minded professional stay competitive in their field to get ahead? I have the secret….
If you don’t have one of these you are missing out on the Bonanza of Free!!!
Your local library is like the fountain of never-ending knowledge. Here you can get books, CDs, DVDs, recorded learning series, and periodicals of some of the leading-edge information available. If you look for it and the library doesn’t have it, ask the Librarian about it. Some libraries belong to an inter-library loan database program, which means they can search for it from libraries across the country, if they have it they will order it for you for free. Some areas have several branches, each possibly specializing in much sought after information. In my area there is a branch which specializes in all things business and another for those seeking employment. The business branch, located downtown of course, offers monthly lunch & learns with field experts in a topic from local businesses. Yes, it’s all free.
From periodicals, to how-to books the library offers the resources you need for learning new skills as well as keeping up with the skills you currently have. If you want to change careers, check out what’s available at the library and teach yourself. How do you get the hands-on experience? By volunteering your new skills to local organizations or small companies looking for assistance, you may be able to – on your own time of course – use your new skills in a different department at your current company. Take your new skills to the masses by signing up to be a speaker at the next networking event or association meeting.
Now is the time to think, and live, outside the box. The normal path to success is not stable, so it’s up to you to look for other ways to get where you’re trying to go. Don’t change your goal; change your method of reaching it. Yes, it’s going to take some of your personal time and no it may not get you there quickly. It will, however, give you a corridor if the next round of cuts leaves you without the path you were on.
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